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638 'Google Play' stories March 2012 - December 2015
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Before the unified Play branding, Google had the Android Market, Google Music, and Google eBookstore. Google decided to merge and rebrand its individual digital offerings into the Play Store in March of 2012.

The Play Store is now the default place to purchase apps, movies & television, music, books, and news subscriptions for all Android devices. The latter four offerings having their individual Android and iOS apps to watch, listen, and read purchased content. Most content can also be accessed through the web.

In April of 2016, the suite of icons were redesigned in a similar style to provide a consistent look across all devices and the web.

Google appears to be testing partial payments with Google Play credits on paid purchases

Avatar for Cam Bunton Dec 1 2015 - 12:40 pm PT
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According to one Reddit user, Google is now seemingly beginning to allow users to part-pay for items using their Google Play Store credit. Previously, if you didn’t have enough credit to cover the entire cost of a download, you couldn’t use it. It’s particularly frustrating if an app or download is only a few cents more than what’s in your balance. If you don’t have enough, it usually defaults to your registered credit card to pay the full amount, leaving your Google Play balance untouched.
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Take 50% off any album purchase from Google Play

Avatar for Nov 25 2015 - 8:39 pm PT
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You can save 50% on any one album from Google Play this weekend. Go through this special link to activate the coupon and then the discount will be automatically applied at checkout. This is a great chance to save on music that isn’t available on any streaming services including Adele’s new critically acclaimed album. Deal expires at midnight on December 1. If for some reason Google Play does ask you for a coupon code, just enter 50ALBUM2015.

Terms and Conditions are as follows:

Get 50% off any one album of your choice. Select any album on Google Play and redeem your offer by midnight December 1, 2015. Your discount will be applied at checkout.

Must be redeemed on Google Play from compatible Internet connected devices using a Google account. Limit 1 per user. Age restrictions apply. Valid in AU, BR, CA, DE, FR, GB and US. Nontransferable. No cash value. Cannot be used in conjunction with other offers or discounts. See Google Play Terms & Conditions

Google Handwriting Input app update brings five new languages including Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Urdu and Burmese

Avatar for Cam Bunton Nov 21 2015 - 6:50 am PT
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Google has updated its Handwriting Input app to include five new languages. Now, customers who speak Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Hebrew and Burmese will be able to scribble words on to the input pad, instead of having to tap or swipe across the virtual QWERTY keyboard. By adding these five new languages, Google’s handwriting recognition tool now supports 82 languages from across the globe.

What’s great about the tool from Google is that, even if you have untidy handwriting, the software still seems to do a good job recognizing your scrawling and changing it in to text on screen. In most cases, it seems to understand what I’m trying to write, even though my scribbles aren’t the most legible. Google describes it as such:

Google Handwriting Input allows you to handwrite text on your phone or tablet in 87 languages. It supports printed and cursive writing, with or without a stylus. Google Handwriting Input also supports hundreds of emojis, so you can express yourself in any Android app.

Key features:
• A useful complement to touchscreen typing or voice input
• A fun way to enter emojis by drawing
• Useful for languages that can be challenging to type on a standard keyboard
• Works across your Android phones and tablets running Android 4.0.3 and up
• If you claim your handwriting is terrible, try it out and see if it can convince you otherwise

Google Handwriting Input version 1.5.1 is available to download for free from the Google Play Store and is compatible with any Android device running Android 4.0.3 or later.

PSA: You can pick up Michael Jackson’s Thriller album free on Google Play [Updated]

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Nov 20 2015 - 4:26 am PT
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Update: Google has now advised that the original version is included as well as the demo.

If you don’t already have Michael Jackson’s hit album Thriller in your music library, Google Play is offering the chance to download it free of charge.

There is, though, a catch. The album is described as a ‘Google Play Exclusive Version,’ and from our sampling of Billy Jean, you may find the special edition a little disappointing. It’s a demo version which sounds like he was singing it in the car …

But hey, free is a very good price.

One thing you won’t get for free on Google Play Music is Adele’s new album, 25. While it is available for preorder on both Google Play and iTunes, the singer’s management has said that it won’t be available for streaming.

LG Smart TVs gaining access to Google Play Movies & TV

Avatar for Abner Li Nov 17 2015 - 11:01 am PT
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LG says that its line of webOS and NetCast 4.0 and 4.5 smart TVs are getting access to Google Play Movies & TV. With access to this service, users will be able to watch previously bought movies and shows as well as buy new ones from the Play Store.

Users will also be able to start watching content on their LG Smart TVs resume watching later from their smartphone, tablet or PC, LG said a press release.

The ability to buy and watch movies will be rolling out to LG Smart TVs in 104 countries starting this month, while the TV service will first roll out to US, Canada, UK, and Australia.

WATCH LATEST MOVIES, TV SHOWS WITH GOOGLE PLAY MOVIES & TV ON LG SMART TVs

‘Google Play Movies & TV’ Brings Great Content to LG Smart TVs, PCs, Smartphones

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Nov. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Starting this month, U.S. owners of LG Smart TVs will be able to enjoy thousands of movies and TV shows through “Google Play Movies & TV.” Compatible with LG’s industry-leading webOS Smart TV platform (as well as its earlier NetCast 4.0 and 4.5), Google Play Movies & TV will offer timeless classics, new releases, independent films and cult favorites in both HD and SD formats.

With Google Play Movies & TV, viewers can rent or buy from among thousands of movies or TV shows from major Hollywood studios. And because all the content originates from the cloud, viewers can begin watching on their LG Smart TVs at home and resume watching from where they left off the next day on their smartphone, tablet or PC.

“The smart TV market is growing rapidly and with that comes a tremendous demand for fresher, higher-quality content,” said In-kyu Lee, senior vice president and head of the TV and monitor division at the LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company. “Meeting this demand is LG’s highest priority, matched only by our desire to provide the best possible viewing experience on our TV products with the webOS platform. Our close partnership with Google will go a long way toward fulfilling the high expectations of LG Smart TV owners.”

Google Play Movies will become available starting this month on LG Smart TVs in 104 countries with the TV service rolling out initially in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.

Google drops minimum premium app and IAP price in 17 countries

Avatar for Cam Bunton Nov 17 2015 - 9:31 am PT
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Google has announced today that — following a successful trial in India — it will allow developers in 17 more countries to charge a lower price for its premium apps and in-app purchases. This news comes a couple of weeks after the company raised the maximum price, now giving developers much more flexibility in what they can charge customers, and hopefully enabling them to reach more customers.

The full list of countries this reaches, and the minimum prices:

  • Brazil: R$ 0.99 (was R$2.50)
  • Chile: CLP $200.00 (was CLP $500.00)
  • Colombia: COP$ 800.00 (was COP$ 2000.00)
  • Hungary: Ft 125.00 (was Ft 225.00)
  • Indonesia: Rp 3,000.00 (was Rp 12,000.00)
  • Malaysia: RM 1.00 (was RM 3.50)
  • Mexico: MXN$ 5.00 (was MXN$ 9.90)
  • Philippines: ₱15.00 (was ₱43.00)
  • Poland: zł1.79 (was zł2.99)
  • Peru: S/. 0.99 (was S/. 3.00)
  • Russia: руб 15.00 (was руб 2.00)
  • Saudi Arabia:﷼ 0.99 (was 2.00﷼)
  • South Africa: R3.99 (was R10.00)
  • Thailand: ฿10.00 (was ฿32.00)
  • Turkey: ₺0.59 (was ₺2.00)
  • Ukraine: ₴5.00 (was ₴8.00)
  • Vietnam: ₫6,000 (was ₫21,000.00)

If you’re a developer in one of these countries, you can lower the prices of your app by going to the Google Play Developer Console and clicking “Pricing and Distribution” or “In-app Products” for your apps.

MetroPCS getting its own version of Music Freedom, to stream unlimited music on $40+/mo plans

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Nov 17 2015 - 4:40 am PT
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T-Mobile is extending its popular Music Freedom service, which allows unlimited use of Google Play Music and other streaming music services without eating into your data allowance, to MetroPCS prepaid customers – albeit under a slightly different name. T-Mobile said that its Music Unlimited service would be available on a range of plans, starting from just $40/month.

Music Unlimited includes more than 30 music streaming services, including Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify, Slacker, iHeart Radio, and Google Play Music. Music Unlimited is available to new and existing MetroPCS customers on Metro’s new $40, $50, and $60 unlimited plans.

The company is also offering a Binge On equivalent, known as Data Maximizer. This compresses streaming video streams down to DVD quality to allow customers to stream three times as much video content for the same data usage … 
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Apple Music on Android: Setup and first impressions [Video]

Avatar for Cam Bunton Nov 10 2015 - 4:03 pm PT
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Apple Music is finally available to download for Android, so I wanted to give you a quick setup tour and first impressions of Apple’s second app for Google’s mobile platform. It’s free to download and offers almost all of the same features and services found in the iOS and OS X apps, including the option to sign up for a free three-month trial…

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Star Wars Battlefront gets its own official Android companion app

Avatar for Cam Bunton Nov 10 2015 - 7:34 am PT
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Thanks to the impending arrival of Star Wars: Episode VII, one of this year’s most talked-about console games is Battlefront, which is undoubtedly one of the best (if not THE best) Star Wars games of all time. And now, it has its own official mobile companion app on the Google Play Store. The Android app was just released and features a number of mini games that unlock various objects in the full Battlefront console title…


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Google launches official DoubleClick for Publishers Android app

Avatar for Cam Bunton Nov 9 2015 - 6:25 am PT
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Google has finally launched an Android app for its DoubleClick for Publishers customers. This way, those who use the service to serve or sell ads will be able to keep on top of their performance without being tied to a desktop. If you are a DoubleClick for Publishers user, you’ll be able to monitor network performance by measuring several key metrics, including impressions, clicks, click ratios and CPM as well as individual advertisement performance.

All in all, it’s a pretty simple app, but potentially very useful to DFP customers. The description itself says nothing but the following:

Provides a high-level overview of a DFP network’s performance. The data is displayed in a series of cards, which contain information associated with what’s happening in your DFP network.

As you’d expect, it’s a free download from the Play Store. It’s compatible with any Android device running 4.0.3 or later.

Google Play Services 8.3 released, brings one-tap Google sign-in, efficient wearable sync, more

Avatar for Cam Bunton Nov 6 2015 - 4:07 am PT
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Google has updated its Play Services to allow developers to make use of some very useful new enhancements to the overall experience of using Android. Google Play Services 8.3 includes updates to the way users sign in to apps, as well as new functionality for app invites, wearable data layer APIs and improvements to location services…


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Drive for Android adds sharing notifications, access to shared files without a Google account

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Nov 4 2015 - 12:07 pm PT
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Google Drive updates arriving today include new features for the Android app including sharing notifications and the ability to share with people without a Google account.

As part of its Drive mobile app updates today, both users of the iOS and Android apps can now enable notifications for when files are shared with them. Not only is it a notification, but it also acts as a quick links to jump right into the file or folder. And in addition, Google notes that “If a file/folder owner has notifications turned on and someone requests access to their content, the owner will be notified of the request instantly on their mobile device so they can quickly grant access.”

And while the Google Drive iOS app is getting what Google describes as a new consistent sharing experience (essentially bringing it up to par with Android), Android users are getting the ability to share with people without a Google account:

Until now, a Google Account was needed to view shared files on an Android device. Now, people can do this without a Google Account just like they can on the web.

The updated Google Drive app for Android is available now.

Google Play Games app adds gameplay recording & sharing features

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 28 2015 - 10:27 am PT
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After adding gameplay recording features to mobile apps alongside its new YouTube Gaming platform launch earlier this month, Google is today updating its Google Play Games app for Android with similar features.

The update will allow users of the Play Games app to quickly hop into gameplay recording with the ability to share their own commentary simultaneously using their device’s front facing camera and microphone.

It’s simple. In the Play Games app, select any game you want to play, then tap the record button. You can capture your gameplay in 720p or 480p, and choose to add video of yourself and commentary via your device’s front facing camera and microphone. When you’re done recording, you can quickly edit and upload your video to YouTube.

Google notes that the feature should come in handy for some of the content creators contributing to the roughly 144 billion minutes of gaming videos and live streams viewed on YouTube each month.

The updated Google Play Games app for Android is rolling out to users in the US and UK starting this week with users in other countries getting access in the near future.

Skype for Android adds video message filters, improvements to conversations & contacts

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 28 2015 - 9:07 am PT
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Skype is rolling out an update for its Android app today that introduces new video filters not unlike competitive video chat services.

The new filters can be applied to video messages with various effects to choose from, and you’ll also find some Halloween themed emoticons and filters to celebrate the occasion this month:

Get started by tapping the filter wand at the bottom left of the video message window. Choose a filter to see it in action then, when you’re ready, hit the record button. Add balloons to your video message to celebrate any occasion. If you’re feeling goofy, change the appearance of your face to make it look rounder or longer – we love this one! Or, if you’re sending a video message showing off your Halloween costume, add some ghosts or use the negative filter to set a spooky mood.

And lastly, Android users get a few welcomed improvements to conversations and contacts in the update, including:

• Quickly send photos and files to the entire group by tapping on the corresponding icon in the group chat media bar.
• Want to chat with a friend who isn’t in Skype? Invite your friends to join Skype from the contacts tab.

The updated Skype for Android app is available on Google Play now.

Popular MMORPG ‘Pocket MapleStory’ gets a worldwide release on Android

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 27 2015 - 7:18 am PT
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Developer of the popular PC game MapleStory has long had a mobile version of the game, Pocket MapleStory, but up until now there has only been a Korean version and a soft launch in select countries. Today the game officially comes to all users worldwide with a localized version for English players.

The mobile version of the game packs in the full side-scrolling MMORPG desktop experience including all 1,500 different quests, real-time online multiplayer functionality, and rich, colorful environments.

Available now, the side-scrolling action that fans have adored for more than 10 years on the PC now gives players the chance to explore the vast and colorful universe of Maple World on mobile devices. Pocket MapleStory has already garnered more than seven million downloads in Asia and has been the number one free game on both the App Store and Google Play in Korea and Taiwan. The game had also ranked first and second in free game category on the App Store in China and Japan respectively… In honor of the worldwide launch, there will be two launch events for fans to earn additional in-game rewards.

Android users are getting the game first with a release on Google Play for free, but with in-app purchases available for items and character customizations.

Developer NEXON Korea noted in its press release that the game already has “more than seven million downloads in Asia and has been the number one free game on both the App Store and Google Play in Korea and Taiwan.” The game is yet to get a worldwide release on iOS, but it will come to all users on the platform later this year.

Pocket MapleStory is available for Android users now on Google Play.

Glu’s ‘Sniper X’ first-person shooter stars Jason Statham for its latest celebrity tie-in

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 22 2015 - 12:01 pm PT
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App publisher Glu today announced its latest game for Android, which is also its latest celebrity partnership with actor Jason Statham starring as the game’s main playable character. The free game is a first-person shooter that some players will notice bears a similarity and seems to borrow from some of Glu’s past FPS games including the Contract Killer series.

“As Glu’s first male celebrity partner, Jason Statham’s over 55 million social followers add a new demographic to the company’s celebrity gaming platform,” said Niccolo de Masi, Glu Chairman and CEO. “Mr. Statham’s creative input throughout the game’s development has ensured a unique and authentic action-adventure experience his fans will enjoy worldwide.”

As part of Statham’s elite paramilitary team SPEAR, players work side-by-side to dismantle terrorists and rogue states that conventional forces can’t touch. Enemies of freedom can run, but they can’t hide from Sniper X!

The celebrity tie-in, featuring Statham’s name, likeness, and voice, follows Glu’s successful “Kim Kardashian: Hollywood” game that reports last year said was on pace to take in around $200 million.

Sniper X with Jason Statham is available on Google Play now for Android smartphones and tablets. The game is free to download but includes in-app purchases for in-game items, which is also the approach Glu took for the successful Kim Kardashian game.

Official trailer from Glu below:

[youtube=https://youtu.be/AYkwjYuly2U]

YouTube Red is Google’s new $10/month ad-free subscription video streaming service

Avatar for Seth Weintraub Oct 21 2015 - 10:21 am PT
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Not to be confused with (Red) Youtube or RedTube, Google announced a new streaming Netflix competitor today dubbed YouTube Red.  The service will also include YouTube streaming music which is also Google Play Music all access which currently carries a $9.99/month price tag so the effective upgrade is $0 for streaming videos and much more…
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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Galaxy S6 (unlocked) $430, Anker USB Solar Panel $50, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 15 2015 - 12:19 pm PT
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Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone 32GB (unlocked): $430 shipped (Reg. $600+) | eBay

Daily Deals: Anker Charger w/ 2-Port USB Solar Panel $50, Misfit Shine Activity and Sleep Monitor $50, more

Free MP3 Downloads: Greatest Hits from TLC, Muddy Waters, more plus Shakira Deluxe Edition

Turn your old system into a Bluetooth speaker with the Mpow Streambot for $16 Prime shipped (Orig. $36)

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 32 GB LTE GSM (unlocked): $570 shipped (Reg. $740) | eBay

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge 32 GB on Verizon (w/ two year contract): $50 shipped | Best Buy

HTC One M9 32 GB flash on Sprint (w/ two year contract): $1 shipped | Best Buy

More new gear from today:

Amazon and Toys R Us give a peek at this year’s must-have holiday gifts

More deals still alive:

Storage: Samsung 500GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD $150 (Reg. $170), WD My Passport 2TB USB 3.0 Portable HDD $70 (Reg. $85)

New products & more:

Electric Jukebox doesn’t want to be Spotify or Chromecast, so what is it?

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